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Massachusetts House OKs $38 Billion Budget

wikipedia.org

The Massachusetts House has completed work on a $38 billion state budget for the fiscal year that begins on July 1.

The spending plan was approved on a unanimous vote Wednesday after three days of debate. Republicans, who typically vote against the final budget, joined with the Democratic majority in supporting the package.

The House budget calls for no new taxes and would increase overall state spending by nearly 3 percent, similar to the hike offered by Republican Gov. Charlie Baker in the budget he proposed in March.

Baker warned of a $1.8 billion structural gap between revenues and anticipated spending.

The House voted to approve several amendments that added to the bottom line after negotiations between members that played out largely behind closed doors.

According to a release from Speaker Robert DeLeo, the budget includes $20 million in new funding to existing programs geared toward prevention efforts surrounding homelessness, including a historically-high level of funding for the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program.

The budget now moves to the Senate.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

Jim is WAMC’s Associate News Director and hosts WAMC's flagship news programs: Midday Magazine, Northeast Report and Northeast Report Late Edition. Email: jlevulis@wamc.org
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